The
East India Company receives a grant of no man's
land from a local governor. On this piece of land, 7
kilometers north of San Thome, protected on three sides
by water, a fortified factory is built. This is christened
Fort St George (after the patron saint of England,
on whose feast day the construction was completed -
April 23rd, 1640).

The
Fort becomes Britain's gateway to India. And its establishment
marks the birth of the city we know today as Chennai.

The
men responsible for the Fort's establishment - Francis
Day, Andrew Cogan, Beri Thimmapa and Nagabaththan.

1658

Triplicane,
south of San Thome, is added to the main settlement.

1664

The
first organised hospital in the country starts at Fort
St George. General Hospital, which moved to its
present location in 1772, opened its doors to Indians
in 1842.

1678

Kaliamman
Kameswarar
temple at Thambu Chetty Street is built. Emperor
Sivaji and the famous Tamil poet of 20th century,
Subramania Bharathi worshipped at this shrine.

1687

The
Corporation of Madras is set up. This, the oldest
municipal organisation in India, was the brainchild
of Sir Josiah Child - the then Chairman of the
East India Company.